Textile apparatus.



H. L. BROWN.

TEXTILE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-5. 1912.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

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TEXTlLE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5.1912. 5 Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

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H. L.-BROWN. TEXTILE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5. I912.

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H. L. BROWN.

TEXTILE APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5. 1912.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

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THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0, WASHINGTON, D. c.

H. L. BROWN.

TEXTILE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5. 1912.

1,1 76. Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

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HENRY L. BROWN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOE TO BROWN SPIN-WRIGHT COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TEXTILE APPARATUS.

Continuation of application Serial No. 605,822, filed January 31, 1911.

Specification of Letters Patent.

1912. Serial No. 675,402.

This invention relates to apparatus of the type in which a metal band is geared to one or more spindles actuatively, and my present application is in continuance of my ap plication Serial No. 605,822, filed Jan. 31, 1911, upon which Letters Patent No. 1,016,39 l were issued upon February 0,1912, or of so much of the subject matter thereof as is common to both applications, it being understood that I contemplate the use of my improvements in any field for which they are adapted by their nature.

An important object of my invention is to provide for the transformation or equipment of such textile apparatus as spinning frames, with minimum change and expense, by the application thereto of metal driving bands, and cooperating gears, of the type disclosed in my U. S. Letters Patent No. 005,960, dated May 10,1910, and in my above mentioned Letters Patent No. 1,016,394, my provisions to this end being directed principally to the construction and arrangement of the actuating and lubricating mechanisms, for ready attachment to existing types of apparatus, and being also directed to the control of the spindles.

The various features of my invention will be illustrated and described fully in the accoi'npanying drawings and specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the head end stand of a spinning machine in the construction of which certain features of my invention have been embodies; Fig. 1" being a fragmentary perspective view of a detail of the toothed baud-driving pulley: Fig. 2 is a horizontal, sectional view on the line m n, Fig. 1, parts being broken away to reveal other parts, and this figure showing also, in similar fashion, the other end-stand and its related parts; Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating certain modifications of structure; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view upon a larger scale, on the line w rc Fig. 5, showing one of the spindles in place within the lubricating conduit upon the spindle rail; Fig. 4 is a similar view of a modified form of spindle, shown separately; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the spindle rail, lubricant conduit, and several spindles; Fig. 5 being a detail new in side elevation of a post to be described; Fig. 6 is a view in vertical section of a modified form of driving pulley and easing; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 8 of a modified form of a spindle and inclosure; and Fig. 8 shows in reverse plan view a modified form of spindle hold-down.

In the embodiment of my invention selected for illustration and description to enable a ready and complete understanding of my improvements, the part designated by the reference character 1 is an endless perforated metal driving band, which is carried pulleys of which there may be any suitable number, a pair of these pulleys being preferably provided for each row of the spindles 2, as indicated in Figs. 1 and where the pulleys shown-are paired at 3 and 1 and at 5 and 6 respectively, the numeral 7 designating the spindle support, of any suitable character, suchas the rail indicated by the same numeral in my aforesaid Letters Patent No. 1,016,39ilz, the endstands 16 and 20 and many other parts being as disclosed in said patent, to which reference may be had for a description thereof.

A single, endless band may be provided, running around the four pulleys, one or more of which may be provided with teeth, as at 9 in Figs. 1 and 2, and serve as driving gears, having suitable actuating mechanism for that purpose, or, if desired, provision may be made for two bands, as indicated at 10 and 11 in Fig. 2 one band for each pair of pulleys. This might prove to be desirable if the strain upon one band seemed excessive, .or other exigencies made such duplication desirable, .the reference character 12 designating a conduit for the return. portions of the bands, with direction pulleys 1 1 of suitable size, preferably over twelve inches in diameter to avoid crystallization of the band.

In Fig. 1 I have shown in detail one convenient mode of construction of the i. so

toothed driving pulley, in which the reference numeral 9 designates the respective teeth, having shanks 19 passing through holes 29 in the rim 26 of the pulley 3, the shanks being threaded and provided with retaining nuts 39, while the proper angular position of the teeth is insured by seating them in suitable peripheral grooves 49. One of these teeth is shown separately in this figure, ready for insertion. The pulley 5 is also shown as provided with teeth 9, and suitable means will preferably be provided for actuating these pulleys, one convenient form of such means comprising vertical shafts 32, 34, with devices for connection with a suitable source of power, such, for example, as the worm gear 36, (see Fig. 1), meshing with a worm 38 on the armature shaft 41 of an electric motor 40, or a pulley 42 (see Fig.2) mav be provided to receive a belt -or rope (not shown) running in well-known fashion from a suitable source of power, and by either of these means the speed of the spindles 2 can be controlled absolutely, as they are provided with gears 44 in mesh with the band 1, which in turn meshes with the teeth 9 on the driving pulley, so that if the diameter of the respective spindle gears be one inch, for example, and that of the driving pulleys 3 or 5 beseventeen inches, (which is a suitable size to avoid deterioration of the band, if the latter be made of tempered steel, as I prefer) then rotation of either or both of the vertical shafts 32, 34 at 300 turns a minute will give'without fail a spindle speed of 300 17, whichis 5100 turns a minute, and if the verticalshafts be rotated at 500 turns, the operator is assured that the spindle speed will be 8500 turns, and so on.

If desired, the worm gearing 36, 38, may be inclosed by a casing 46 to permit circulation of lubricant through pipes 48 by a pump 50, this system being indicated in somewhat diagrammatic form to avoid unnecessary detail, as the operation of such circulation systems is well understood by those skilled in the art. So also the support of the vertical shafts 32, 34, may be provided for in any suitable fashion, in accordance with their location, which may be determined by the exigencies of individual installations, and in the instance selected for illustration, by way of example, I have shown bearing blocks 52 secured by bolts 54 upon. a shelf 56 which carries the motor 40, the bolts 54 fastening also the shelf to the horizontal flange 58 of the end-stand 16, and as further means to support the motor I haveshown a bracket 62 projecting from the lower portion of the end stand and provided with upright posts 64 extending up to the shelf 56.

I The lower ends of the shafts 32, 34, may be journaled in suitable bearings (not shown) carried by a pan 66 which I prefer to provide as an inclosure for the pulleys 3 and 5, and this pan may be formed in any suitable way and of any suitable contour.

I11 the instance illustrated the pan 66 is the spindles 2 are in place, with their gears 44, my driving band 1 will occupy substantially the position shown in Fig. 2, the periphery of the band-driving pulley 3 approaching so closely the plane of the vertical flange of the end-stand 16 that it may be found desirable to provide clearance by cutting away the vertical flange and adding a reinforcement 72, (see Fig. 1) bolted on as at 74, and within which the pan 66 finds ample space. In constructing new frames, the designer can readily provide for this clearance. For the pulleys 4 and 6 a similar inclosing pan 76 may be provided, set on the rails 7, in the end-stand 20, and the pulleys 4 and 6 may be supported in any suitable manner, one convenient means being constituted by the carriage 78, sliding on bearing rods 80, which may be withdrawn lengthwise through holes closed by plugs 81 in the side walls 82 of the pan, such with drawal leaving the carriage free for removal bodily, with the pulleys 4 and 6 which may have anti-friction journals 83. Such an arrangement is economical as it is not necessary to machine or thread the rods 80.

The pan 76 may be provided with a cover 84, upon removal of which the band 1 may readily be inspected without stopping it or interfering with the operation of the spindles, and thus the operation of the latter is continuous, in contradistinction to the methods of driving by individual bands of organic material, which must be replaced so frequently that an average of ten per cent. of the spindles are often out of commission.

As one convenient means to hold the carriage 78 in desired position to maintain the band taut, I have shown a shaft 85 in threaded engagement with the carriage 78 at 86, and having one end engaged with a spring 87 in a socket 88 closed by a plug 89, this shaft having a hand-wheel 90, so that by turning the shaft manually the carriage 78 can be caused to slide outwardly on the rods 80, forcing the pulleys 4 and 6 into the bight of the band 1, until the band is taut, and the spring 87 is then compressed by further turning of the shaft until the desired tension of the band is secured. Upon reverse movement of the Shaft 5, the carriage 78 may be run inward out of engagement with the band 1, and the carriage, pulleys and shaft may be removed as a unitary structure, leaving the band 1 free for manipulation in the pan 76, as, for example, for the purpose of riveting together, or otherwise joining, the ends of the band, or re pairing the same.

In accordance with my improved system of spindle actuation, the co-actuative parts of the spindle, gears, pulleys and the band are provided with a protective inclosure which serves as a continuous retainer for lubricant, acting as a conduit if the lubricant be fluid, such as oil, the latter being so applied that the endless band, moving lengthwise at a speed sometimes reaching several thousand feet a minute, carries the lubri-- cant around with it, lubricating themoving parts thoroughly, and if suitable oil be employed the spindles may be lubricated automatically as well. An important feature of my invention, therefore, consists in the provision of means to accomplish the above purpose, preferably by such a structure as to permit the ready application of the conduit to existing structures, such as the spindle-rail 7 already described. As one convenient form of structure, I have shown a trough-like member 100 which may be of any suitable material seated upon the rail 7 and having bottom apertures 102 registering with the spindle apertures in the rail 7 so that when the spindle bases 313 are installed in the usual manner, with their flanges 38 seated upon the bottom of the con duit 100, the conduit is held in place without need for other means of attachment.

I may form the conduit 100 in part or wholly of sound-deadening and oil-retaining structure, for which purpose I may employ a material comprising compressed fiber, and for the same reason I prefer to utilize a similar, substantially U-shaped member 104: inverted in telescopic relation with the trough-like member 100 above described, the cover member being preferably of a suitable size to enter the trough, substantially closing the same, but having top apertures 106 to pass the spindles, the contact of the latter with the fiber bottom 100 forming an oiltight seal.

The top member 104: may be supported in any suitable manner, but I prefer for the sake of rigidity to provide a plurality of posts 108 at intervals of a few feet along the spindle rail to support the top member independently of any connection with the bottom member, and in Figs. 5 and 5 I have shown one convenient form of such post 108, the latter having a reduced threaded portion at each end as at 110 and 112 respectively, leaving shoulders 113 which bear against the material of the bottom and top respectively, nuts being provided as at 114, 115 to hold the post to the rail, through which it passes as illustrated, and to hold the top member in place upon the post.

In accordance with another important object of my invention I prefer to arrange the conduit members and spindles in such relative position that the lubricant, if fluid, will be splashed by forward movement of the band 1 over the band and gears and carried around through the conduit into the pans at each end and thence back into the conduits on the respective rails, and for this reason I prefer to leave the conduit open from end to end, and to join it to the pans at each end, and any suitable means may be provided for this purpose. As one convenient form of such joining means, I have shown at 116 a flange upon the pan 66 and at 182 I have shown a similar flange forming part of the wall 82 of the pan 76, to which flanges 116 and 182 the inner wall of the trough may be fastened, as by rivets. A similar joint may be made between the outer wall of the conduit and the contiguous wall of the pans, as at 176. I prefer also to utilize spindles having ports (see Fig. 3) as at 120, arranged at a suitable height above the bottom of the trough to admit limpid oil to the interior of the spindle base but so high that detritus will not find access to the spindle base but will sink to the bottom of the trough and be carried along slowly with the current of oil created by movement of the band until it enters one of the pans, as at the portion 122 of the pan 76, which portion being somewhat depressed, acts as a sump from which the oil containing forelgn substances can be readily withdrawn, as for example, through a hole closed by a plug 124. The pan 66 may have -a similar vent 166.

As already noted briefly each of the spindles 2 is provided with its own driving gear 4-4 having teeth 45 meshing with apertures 4-7 in the band 1, and to prevent the band 1 from escaping from the meshing relation with the teeth, I prefer to provide suitable means, such as the guide pins 49, which in the instance illustrated are carried by tongues 333, which may be formed integrally with the base flange 33 and preferably will be slightly elevated above the bot tom of the trough 100, so that the guide 49 can be readily turned into adiusted position approximately as shown in Fig. 5, substantially midway between the two adjacent spindles. Alternate spindle bases may be provided with the guides, and the others need not have the guides, as it is found that the guides need not press against the band 1., but merely serve to prevent the latter from leaving the position of engagement with the teeth if the band happens to receive a vibra tion laterally.

I prefer to provide means for holding the gears flexibly at the proper height relatively to the band so that the band shall not carry the weight of the gears, and any suitable means may be provided for this purpose, one convenient device for this purpose being shown' at 190, which designates a coiled spring surrounding the base of the spindle, and upon which the gear is supported at the correct height normally, being free to move slightly co-axially of the spindle to follow the band in the slight vertical trepidations to which an elongated member of that character is subject.

The coupling between the'gear and spindie-blades is also preferably of such a character as to permit this vertical play of the gear without uncoupling the co-rotating parts and without unseating the spindle blade 192 from its step 19% (see Fig. 3) and any convenient device may be provided for the purpose, such a device being shown at 195, which designates prongs intermediate and connecting the co-rotating parts, the prongs being shown in Fig. 3 as carried by the collar 196 on the spindle blade, and en tering apertures 198 in the gear, while in Fig. l, the prongs 197 are shown as carried by the gear and entering apertures 200 in the collar 202 of the spindle blade.

The gear shown in Fig. 4; is formed of two parts l l l pinned together by the wires of whichthe prongs .are formed, while in Fig. 3 the gear 4% is shown as formed integrally. In each figure a bushing, 205 of suitable material such as brass, is shown on the neck of thebase, and may run freely between the neck and gear, or may be fixed to rotate with the gear, orto be stationary on the base.

The reference numeral 206 designates an ordinary form of bolster, within the base, having ports 208, and grooves 210 through which theoil entering the base through the I exterior port 120 can gain access to the interior of the bolster, ascending therein underthe elevating action natural to spindles of the type illustrated, the lubricant thus elevated being discharged over the gear so that the cooperating faces of bolster, bushing. gear and band are thoroughly lubricated.

The bolster base, bushing and gear may have ports 214 to permit the lubricant to pass through the walls thereof into the re gion of engagement with the band, under the action of centrifugal force, which serves to discharge laterally any products of attrition. or other impurities in the lubricant, so that. as already noted, the detritus is gathered and carried along the conduit below the level of the ports 120. and only limnidoil is delivered to the spindle base.

' The spindle base may have a curb 216 (see Fig. 4) to direct into the port 120 any lubricant which. finds its way thereto, and in practice in spindle construction, being provided for example with a nut 218 and washer 220, to hold it in place on the rail 7.

The reference numeral designates a pin passing through the wall of the spindle into engagement with the bolster to prevent rotation of the latter, and 226 designates a similar pin holding loosely the step-block 19*, these features of construction being in nowise essential to my invention, and an oil. cup 233 may be used to contain oil surrounding ports 234.

An object of notable importance in my invention is to provide means to control the axial position of the spindle-blade relatively to the base and gear, so that in doffing the bobbin the operator will not unseat the spindle blade to such an extent as to uncouple it from the gear.

- Any suitable means may be provided to accomplish the above object, and as one convenient form of construction I have shown the top of the rail trough as arranged to check displacement of the spindle blades without interfering normally with their rotation, the means illustrated by way of example for this purpose comprising a metal top-piece 230 provided with members which may be moved to permit withdrawal of the spindle-blades and capable of being fixed in position to check the same, being supported by the top-piece 230 at a height above the spindle-blade-collar or whirl suitable to give a clearance of say one-eighth of an inch, normally, to permit free rotation of said blade.

The numerals 232 designate nipples for the above purpose fastened in apertures 23% in the metal rail by suitable means, such as the bayonet joint 231 shown in Fig. 3, a simple turning movement of the nipple sul'licing to unfasten the nipple and release it so that the spindle-blade can be withdrawn, carrying with it the nipple, with which the spindle-blade-collar comes into contact when lifted. The nipples 232 serve also, when in place, to prevent escape of oil from the conduit.

A modified form of controlling means comprises a slide 237 (see Fig. 8) having cut-away portions 238 to release the spindleblades when the cut-away portions are opposite the shoulders 202, of such a, spindle as that shown in Fig. 4, the slide serving to check the spindleblades when the slide is moved to position the portions 242 above the shoulders 202. The slide 237 may be suitably supported, as for example between the fiber and metal top-pieces 104: and 230, a controlling lever 24-8 with a pin 250 serving to permit actuation of a slide controlling a considerable number of spindles by a single movement.

Another important object of my invention is to provide suitable means for actuating the drawing-down rolls and the builder motion, in apparatus actuated by my metal driving band, and any suitable device may be employed for this purpose. One convenient form of such means is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and 2 and takes the form of a horizontal shaft 130 connected suitably with one or both of the vertical driving shafts 32, 34, as for example by bevel gears 132 on the vertical shafts engaging corre sponding bevel gears 134 on the horizontal shaft, the latter being supported in suitable bearings as indicated at 136 which in the instance illustrated are bolted to the vertical web 160 of the end stand 16. (See Fig. 2.) This shaft, if connected with both of the vertical shafts 32 and 34, serves as a convenient form of means to synchronize the rotative movements of the pulleys 3 and 5, and some such form of connecting means is desirable if both the pulleys are provided with teeth, especially if only one vertical pulley shaft is provided with actuating mechanism so that the other pulley depends upon the cross connection for its power.

As one convenient form of structure for the actuation of the builder motion, I have shown at 138 a worm upon the horizontal shaft 130 engaged with a worm gear 140 upon a horizontal counter-shaft 142 extending inward above the pan 66 as shown in Fig. 2, and connected by a sprocket wheel and sprocket chain 144 with a lower actuating shaft 170 forming part of the builder motion, which may be of well known construction and need not be described herein, but can be seen upon reference to my Letters Patent No. 1,016,394. The means for actuating the drawing-down rolls may also be of any suitable construction and I have shown one convenient form of mechanism for this purpose, the same constituting one of the notable features of my present invention.

The drawing-down mechanism itself may be of any suitable character, as for example, that illustrated at 174 in Fig. 1 of my aforesaid Letters Patent, and I have for that reason given a corresponding reference numeral to the shaft 174 in Figs. 1 and 2 of my present application, which serves as the prime mover of the drawing-down mechanism, occupying a position usual in machines of the class described. I prefer to provide for imparting to the mechanism 17 4 a wide variety of speeds without necessitating the removal and substitution of gears, and for that reason I have provided a nest of gears 150 of different sizes, splined upon a horizontal counter-shaft 152 parallel with the counter-shaft 130, the counter-shaft 152 being connected with the drawing-down mechanism 174 by a couple of bevel gears 154 and 156, so that the bevel gears on both sides of the spinning frame will be actuated in unison. The connection with one of the nested gears 150 suitable for transmitting the desired speed may be accomplished in any suitable manner, and as one convenient form for effecting this selective connection, I have shown a counter-shaft 158 (see Fig. 1) carried in arms 162 mounted pivotally on the horizontal shaft 130, the counter-shaft" 158 being driven from the counter-shaft 130 by gears 164 and 165 of which one is fast on the counter'shaft .130 and the other is fast on the counter-shaft 158, so that in all positions of the rock arms 162, the gears 164 and 165 are in mesh.

Upon the shaft 158 I provide a suitable number of gears, of which in the instance illustrated I- have shown three, bearing the reference numerals 168, 169 and 171, the last mentioned being shown in Fig. 1 as engaged with one of the nested gears 150, while the other two gears 168 and 169 have been moved along the shaft 158 out of operative position for engagement, the gears being splined upon the shaft 158 and movable there along, the selected gear alone being in actuative position, although all three of the gears rotate constantly with the shaft.

By means of the above connection, each of the gears on the shaft 158 can be caused to produce ten speeds for the shaft 152 and accordingly for the drawing-down mechanism 174 so that altogether thirty speeds can be given to the mechanism 174, and this is ordinarily a suflicient range for all the different Speeds required for the prime mover of drawing-down mechanism, as numerous different numbers of yarn or thread can be produced with the same speed of such prime mover.

Any suitable form of controlling means for the selective mechanism may be provided, and as one convenient form of such controller I have shown a link 172 connected at one end to a bar 173 uniting the forward ends of the arms 162, the other end of the link being provided preferably with a thumb nut 476, by which the link may be secured in adjusted position in any one of a series of holes 178 in a register plate 180, depending from the shelf 56 in convenient situation for observation so that the operator can readily see what speed is being secured and can by simple adjustment regulate the speed, without substitution of gears.

The reference numeral 482 designates bearings bolted to the web 160, in which bearings is mounted the shaft 152 carrying the nest of gears 150.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modified form of driving pulley comprising a pulley 183 secured to a driving shaft 185, the rim 184 of the pulley being provided with teeth 9, and inclosed laterally by a circular wall 192 which with the bottom 189 and curb 191 forms a peripheral annular conduit toreceive lubricant 490 inwhich the rim 184 may dip slightly for the purpose of lubrieating the teeth 9 and band 1 (not shown). A bearing 186 for the shaft 185 may be provided and supported in any suitable way, as by a web 188 and hub 187, and the shaft 185 may be driven by any suitable means,

as forexample the rope sheave 193, or a couple of gears 194, 495.

I have shown in Fig. 7 a modified form of inclosure especially adaptable for use with spindles in which lubricant is circulated, and this device may be of any suitable construction. One convenient form of construction therefor comprises an inverted U-shaped member 240 superimposed upon the rail 207 which may be of ordinary construction, provided with packing ipreferably, as at 274 and 275, under thelegs of the container-240, such packing preferably consisting of what is known in trade as lead insertion consisting of a layer of lead withv layers of rubber on each side thereof. Bolts 2% maybe provided to hold the inclosure in place, and ducts 288 provided, While outlet pipes 289 may serve to carry off the excess of oil or other lubricant, indicated in Fig. 7 by dots or stippling which shows the course of the lubricant.

The lubricant preferably is elevated within the spindle base 286, circulating in the annular spaces between the spindle blade 208, the bolster 340 and the base 286, passing upward through the groove 255 over the neck 236 of the base, and downward within the whorl 264 of the spindle blade, the lubricant then passing down and out from under the shoulder 268, flowing over the bushing 239, gear 272, and lubricating the band 1 and teeth 204C with a copious flow of lubricant, and then passing off as above described. This type of spindle also may have a curb like that shown at 216 in Fig. 41, to return lubricant to its interior.

In accordance with an invention which forms the subject of a separate application, the upward, pressure of lubricant may be made suflicient to float the spindle, out of contact with any metal surface, thereby increasing its free running quality greatly, and if at any time the spinning frame is stopped, or the pressure is cut off, the oil will run ed, and the inclosure member 240 may be removed by loosening the nuts on the bolts 244, so that the cover 240 having been thus removed free access may be had to the spindles. If desired, a flange 277, secured by screws 278, or other suitable retaining means may be provided to aid in locating the member 240, and to prevent escape of lubricant. Catches 246 may also be provided, in position to be engaged with the shoulder 268, if the spindle blade is raised too high by the oil pressure.

.lAnyj suitable means may be provided to furnish fluid lubricant under pressure, as for example the storage tank 196 and related parts shown in my Letters Patent No. 1,016,394, granted Feb. 6, 1912.

Having illustrated and described my inway of example, nor in general do I limit myself otherwise than as set forth in the claims read in connection with this specification.

lVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America, is

1. Apparatus of the class described; comprising a support; spindles thereon provided with individual driving-gears; a metal driving band in mesh with said gears; two band pulleys of suitable dimensions to avoid crystallization of said metal band, one of said pulleys having teeth to engage said band; and actuating means for said pulley; said band being arranged in tangent relation, intermediate said pulleys, with said spindles in a row therealong.

2. Textile apparatus of the class described; comprising a support having a plurality of substantially straight spindle-rails and drawing mechanism; and in combination therewith spindles provided with individual driving-gears; an endless metal driving band in mesh with said gears; and a pair of band pulleys for each rail, of suitable diameter to avoid crystallization of said band, the latter running in tangent relation with said pulleys and the gears of the spindles along the portion of said spindlerail intermediate each pair of pulleys, one or more of said pulleys having band-driving teeth and actuating means; and means to actuate said drawing mechanism.

3. Textile apparatus; comprising a support; spindles with individual driving gears arranged in a plurality of rows upon said support; a plurality of pairs of band pulleys, one pair for each of said rows; and a plurality of endless metal driving-bands, one for each of said pairs of pulleys, running in tangent relation from pulley to pulley in mesh with said spindle gears, and with their return portions running through the middle of the frame.

4. In a machine of the class described; the combination with a. spindle-rail, spindles and a metal driving band geared to said spindles, of a separately formed member secured upon said rail and constituting therewith a. trough-like inclosure for said spindles and band.

5. In a machine of the class described; the combination with a spindle-rail, spindles, and a metal driving-band geared to said spindles, of a separately-formed trough-like member secured upon said rail inclosing said band and gears.

6. In a machine of the class described; the combination with an apertured spindle-rail and spindles seated in said apertures upon said rail of an inclosing trough seated upon said rail and having apertures to receive said spindles.

7. In a machine of the class described; the combination with a spindle-rail, spindles, and a metal band, of an inclosure of sound deadening material superimposed upon said rail; substantially as described.

8. In a machine of the class described; the combination with a spindle-rail and spindles, of a trough-like inclosure secured to said rail by said spindles.

9. In a machine of the class described; the combination with a spindle-rail and spindles, of a trough-like inclosure secured to said rail by said spindles, and means to prevent escape of lubricant between said spindles and rail.

10. In a machine of the class described; the combination with a spindle-rail and spindles, of a trough-like inclosure secured to said rail by said spindles said trough being formed in part of sound deadening, lubricant proof material, constituting means to prevent escape of lubricant between said spindles and rail.

11. An inclosure for spindle-driving bands and gears, said inclosure comprising a trough-like member having a bottom with apertures to receive the bases of said spindles, substantially as described.

12. An inclosure for spindle-driving bands and gears; said inclosure comprising a trough-like member of compressed fibrous material; substantially as described.

13. An inclosure for spindle-driving bands and gears; said inclosure comprising a plurality of trough-like members of fibrous material, secured together to inclose said band and gears.

14.. An inclosure for spindle-driving bands and gears, said inclosure comprising sounddeadening members of fibrous material and means to limit the axial movement of said spindles.

15. An inclosure for spindle-driving bands and gears, said inclosure comprising sounddeadening members of fibrous material and means to limit the axial movement oi said spindles, said means including a member movable relative to said spindles to free the latter.

16. An inclosure for spindle-driving bands and gears, said inclosure comprising sounddeadening members of fibrous material and means to limit the axial movement of said spindles, said means including a plurality of members movable relative to said spindles to free the latter.

17. An inclosure for spindle-driving bands and gears, said inclosure comprising sound deadening members of fibrous material and means to limit the axial movement of said spindles, said means including a plurality of members movable respectively relative to said spindles to free the latter individually, and a metal supporting member for a plurality of said movable members.

18. In a machine of the class described; the combination with a spindle rail, spindles and a metal driving band geared to said spindles, of means, carried by said spindle rail to form a trough-like inclosure for said band and gears and having a cover provided with means to limit the axial movement of said spindles.

19. In a machine of the class described; the combination with a spindle rail, spindles and a metal driving band geared to said spindles, of means, carried by said spindle rail to form a trough-like inclosure for said band and gears and having a cover provided with means to limit the axial movement of said spindles, said means including a plurality of nipples movable respectively relatively to said spindles to free the latter individually.

Signed at New York in the county and State of New York this 8rd day of February, 1912.

HENRY L. BROWN.

W'itnesses:

WM. E. HOLLAND, ALnxANDEa C. Prounrrr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

